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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

AZ SB 1070: Brewer takes time considering veto, has "concerns"

Arizona lawmakers on Monday approved one of the toughest illegal immigration laws in the United States.

The immigration bill now heads to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who has five days to sign it, veto it or do nothing and allow it to become law. Brewer said she’d be reviewing the legislation over the next several days, indicating that she will probably take the maximum time allowed to her before taking action.

Arizona Senate Bill 1070 would, among other things, make it a state crime to be in the country illegally and require local police to enforce federal-immigration laws. If the governor signs it, Arizona would be the first state to criminalize illegal immigrants.

Brewer, speaking to media at an unrelated news conference Monday morning, said she had “concerns” about SB 1070.

“I am always concerned about all of those things,” Brewer said when asked about several specific provisions of the bill, including one that would require police to ask anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally to produce an “alien registration document” such as a green card. Those who don’t or can’t produce one would be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor and face a minimum $500 fine.

[WHAT IF YOU CAN'T PRODUCE A GREEN CARD, AS YOU DON'T OWN A GREEN CARD BECAUSE YOU ARE A U.S. CITIZEN?]

Still, Brewer declined to give any indication as to whether she would sign or veto the legislation, which has gotten national attention. If she signs the bill, it would go into effect 90 days after the session ends.

“I’ll look at it, go over it and review it completely when it hits my desk,” she said. :::MORE HERE:::